Aviation giants Airbus, Menzies seek long-time partnership with Bangladesh

Leading European aircraft manufacturer Airbus and British aviation services powerhouse Menzies Aviation have expressed keen interest in forging enduring partnerships with Bangladesh. The overtures were made during separate meetings in London on Tuesday, where Airbus Executive Vice President Wouter van Wersch and Menzies Aviation Executive Vice President Charles Wyley successively met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

“We have identified Bangladesh as a key priority country,” van Wersch stated to the Chief Adviser, highlighting Airbus’s strong desire to establish a partnership with Bangladesh’s national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, with a view to enhancing its profitability. Van Wersch underscored Airbus’s extensive capabilities, noting that the company delivers approximately 800 aircraft annually and possesses expertise in the manufacturing of helicopters and fighter jets.

Chief Adviser Yunus acknowledged the propositions, indicating Bangladesh’s openness to explore all viable options for modernizing the Biman fleet. However, he emphasized a deliberate approach to decision-making. “I am very eager to understand what can be done, what should be done. So, we will listen to you. But don’t expect any decision soon. We have to look at everything in a very fresh way,” the Chief Adviser conveyed.

Airbus’s proposal included a significant financing offer: if Bangladesh opts to integrate Airbus aircraft into the Biman fleet, up to 85 percent of the funding could be facilitated through Export Credit Agency (ECA) financing.

Separately, London-based Menzies Aviation articulated its readiness to compete for ground handling and air cargo services at the third terminal of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Leveraging its extensive experience in providing similar services to over 300 airports across at least 65 countries, Menzies Aviation aims to bolster Bangladeshi airport operations.

“We would like to support Bangladeshi airports besides your national carrier,” Menzies Executive Vice President Wyley informed the Chief Adviser. Wyley further elaborated that, should Menzies Aviation be awarded the ground handling contract, the company intends to establish Dhaka as a training hub for a portion of its global workforce of 65,000 employees. “We are a proven British company, and we would like to offer our support,” Wyley concluded.